15/12/2017

Stronger professional ties at the School of Wine & Spirits Business

New programme directors with impressive professional experience in wine and spirits groups strengthen SWSB's network.

Since the beginning of the academic year, the School of Wine & Spirits Business (SWSB) and its MSc in Wine Business and Specialised Master in International Wine and Spirits Trade have been led by two new directors, offering students increased direct contact with companies and access to a global network of experts in the domain.

Programme Management: a complete vision of companies

Jacques Thébault (photo) became director of the MSc in Wine Business with his extensive experience at Sopexa (communications and marketing agency, notably specialised in wines and spirits). His solid managerial background in the United States, Southern Europe, Switzerland and France, led him to become the Shanghai-based director of seven agencies in Asia. His unique experience gives him a unique and in-depth understanding of international markets: supply chains, distribution channels, consumer behaviour, B2B and B2C communications plans, etc. In addition to the programme's management, he will enhance the ties with international professional guest speakers, and will teach courses in international marketing and multicultural management, among other SWSB courses.

Frédéric Mercier, became director of the MS CIVS (Specialised Master in International Wine and Spirits Trade), after working for LVMH (Wine & Spirits) in international marketing, where he acquired valuable knowhow in product launching and team management. He also has substantial experience in consulting and entrepreneurship.

"Thanks to their profiles and professional contacts, SWSB students are already in contact with the most renowned professionals in the field throughout the world", affirms SWSB Director, Jérôme Gallo. "We are increasing our already solid network, which includes, in particular, the thousand plus graduates from our programmes."

Wine & Spirits VIP Room: expert testimonials

For the first time this year, SWSB students benefit from an exclusive series of regular and key meetings with senior managers from the wines and spirits industry, which take place in the Wine & Spirits VIP Room. The objective of these exchanges is to better understand the field's profiles, jobs and markets, to ask the guest speaker questions and to learn thanks to his/her professional experience.

The guests provide insight into the different kinds of jobs, organisations and geographical areas in wine and spirits. The first meeting took place at the beginning of December with Nicolas Lainé, Export Manager at Château de Meursault (Wine & Spirits VIP Room #1 click here). The upcoming events will host directors of business units, and marketing directors of big groups based in Asia and the United States.